The Auditor General of Pakistan’s Audit Report 2025-26 has revealed alleged financial irregularities exceeding Rs9.61 billion in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including suspected fraud, embezzlement, procurement-related violations, and financial irregularities involving employees.
According to the report, the Auditor General raised concerns over the collection of hefty fees in the name of document attestation. Fees ranging from Rs3,000 to Rs12,000 were charged for the attestation of ordinary documents, while the fee structure for the international attestation of documents had not been formally approved.
The report also highlighted an alleged fraud of $27,390 involving Pakistani diplomatic staff in Havana, Cuba.
It further stated that the official monthly rent for the residence of a Third Secretary was $1,100, but payments of $2,000 per month continued to be made, with an additional $900 allegedly ending up in the pockets of diplomatic staff. In Paris, differences were also found in residential rents paid for officers of the same category, with monthly rents ranging from €3,700 to €5,300. Monthly variations of €600 to €1,600, and in some cases €700 to €1,043, were identified.
The document also revealed that foreign missions paid health insurance premiums exceeding $2.5 million without having a health insurance policy. Pakistani missions in Houston, Los Angeles, and Chicago also paid more than $200,000 in medical charges.
According to the report, the missions in Chicago, Belgrade, and Los Angeles acquired vehicles at higher rates without obtaining the required approvals. It also revealed that Rs1.14 billion in funds had been kept in a private bank account in violation of rules.
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The report further disclosed that courier companies kept Rs950 million in private bank accounts. It also noted that rental payments amounting to $78,836 and €35,000 were made for leased vehicles. Financial irregularities in the use of government funds were also identified in Riyadh and Milan, while overseas missions were found not to have recovered utility charges and security deposits from officers.
The report also stated that employees of the Institute of Strategic Studies were paid medical and house rent benefits in violation of rules. It further pointed to weak internal controls within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the unavailability of records, and poor implementation of the directives of the Public Accounts Committee.
